Texas Tech Dominated Oklahoma State In Blowout Victory

This was exactly the type of response one could have hoped for from Texas Tech. Head coach Joey McGuire stated earlier in the week that this team would get a chance to prove how his team would respond to a loss. Oklahoma State struggled to do anything offensively or defensively against Texas Tech all day in Lubbock. In a workmanlike performance, Texas Tech dominated the Cowboys 42-0.

When a team is looking to bounce back, getting some big plays out of the special teams unit is always a great kick starter. There is no better way to get the game started than a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by J’Koby Williams. The special teams were just getting warmed up. After forcing Oklahoma State to go three-and-out on their opening drive, the special teams unit blocked the ensuing punt. The Red Raiders capitalized on a one-play touchdown drive on a swing pass to Williams for his second score of the day. On a day Texas Tech dominated Oklahoma State from the jump, the special teams had one more big play in them. The Cowboys, trying to find a spark, ran a fake punt early in the second quarter. But the Red Raiders sniffed it out and stopped it.

Early on in the game, it appeared offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich took a look at what Last Word suggested for a game plan against Oklahoma State. Leftwich admitted he was too conservative with the play-calling, with Will Hammond making his first start of 2025 against Arizona State. Early in the game, Hammond took multiple shots down the field. One was overthrown, and another was a dime that was dropped for what would have been a walk-in touchdown. But Hammond suffered a leg injury in the second quarter and never returned. McGuire said in the post-game press conference that Hammond would have an MRI on Sunday, and they would know more then. When Hammond left, he was 9-for-15 for 102 yards and one touchdown. But take away the one touchdown pass, he was only 8-for-14 for 76 yards.

Those aren’t numbers that reflect an explosive offensive effort.

Enter Wake Forest transfer Mitch Griffis. The fifth-year senior filled in admirably. He finished the game 9-for-13 for 172 yards and one touchdown. Because the game was incredibly one-sided, Griffis was not asked to do much. Play-calling was very conservative, almost as if it were an effort simply to get the game to the end. Possibly the biggest positive for the offense was that the Red Raiders finished with just one penalty. It is hard to properly evaluate the offense that scored 28 points. It was QB2 and QB3 playing. Additionally, the script didn’t require the most elaborate play-calling to get a decisive victory.

Texas Tech’s offense cruised in this one because the best defense in the Big 12 held serve throughout the four quarters. Oklahoma State finished the game with only 182 yards of offense. Jacob Rodriguez registered a forced fumble, scooped it up, and scampered 69 yards for a touchdown. It was Rodriguez’s 11th career fumble recovery. He also led the team with 10 tackles in the game. The pass rush that has hounded Big 12 passing attacks all season remained ever-present, despite only registering one sack. The shutout was the first home Big 12 shutout since 2005.

To the surprise of no one, the Red Raiders came out against an overmatched Oklahoma State team and took care of business. It was the largest margin of victory against the Cowboys since a 58-point victory in 2000. All signs point to Behren Morton starting next week against Kansas State. The Wildcats have been the biggest thorn in this program’s side for a decade and a half now. It also appears that Kansas State is hitting its stride after dismantling Kansas in Lawrence on Saturday. This road test against Chris Kliemen’s squad is the biggest remaining hurdle this team faces if it wants to achieve an 11-win regular season.

Main Photo: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images